An Assignment for My COMM 2423 Writing for Digital Media Class

This fall, we’ve welcomed about 600 students who are brand new to Southeastern University, either as first-year or transfer students. Many of them are still finding their way on campus, in literal and metaphorical ways.

Think back to your first semester or so on our campus here at SEU. What do you wish you had known as you began your first year? What advice would you offer students new to SEU? Share three of your best tips as a reply to this blog post. If possible, include one tip in each of these areas: academic, social and spiritual.

Then, after reading the tips from your classmates, create a top ten list of advice for students new to SEU as a post on your own blog. (You can title the post as you wish.) You can use your own tips as well as those of your classmates. Remember that if you use your classmates’ tips to give them credit for the ideas, and link back to their blogs. Also, choose an appropriate Creative Commons licensed image to accompany your post.

NOTE: Your reply can count as one of your Blog Comments if you document it, and the post you write can count as one of your Writer’s Choice posts.

Social Success: Do everything! go to all of the events. Check out, but don’t commit to, all the clubs & organizations that interest you then narrow your interests evaluate what will work with your schedule and PLUG IN!

Academic Success: Learn to Schedule! It doesn’t matter if you use a paper planner, or an app on your phone or an online calendar, always record due date, meetings, and if you are really busy, schedule in fun time too – trust me, it’s necessary.

Spiritual Success: Find a church! Check out all of those that interest you but you actually need to pick one and be planted! This, coupled with daily personal pursuit of a Christ life, are two non-negotiables.

Oh, and Lakeland as lame as it may seem at first, there’s actually pretty cool stuff to do, you just gotta look! Plus, Tampa & Orlando are only a quick drive away.

Socially – try sitting at a table in Tuscana with people you do not know and get to know them over breakfast, lunch, or dinner

Academically – think ahead/ space out your workload

Overall, I would say the key words are balance and discipline. Know what you have to do and when it needs to be done by. At the same time, plan to take study breaks to do something fun and meet new people. Some good ways to do this are by playing on an intramural team, attending sports games, going to SBLC events, and seeing what others in your dorm are up to. Also, it is important to plan your time with God. Look for times that your schedule allows for you to find a quiet place to read your Bible and pray.

Academically: Attend classes, take good notes & manage adquete time to study.

Socially: Get involved! SEU has a wide range of clubs and organizations to get involved in. It’s also a great opportunity to grow in your giftings and meet those with similar passions.

Spititually: Make room for daily disciplines – pray daily, do devotions…make room to spend time with God in the quiet moments. It’s a great discipline to practice now because without doing so you’ll be sure to get lost in the busyness of your lives.

Socially: Take initiative to join on-campus groups even if you don’t have much experience. Through this you will be able to gain confidence in your abilities, learn skills from upperclassmen, and meet people who you will be in classes with for the rest of college.

Academically: Find a professor to mentor you, who will give you advice and encouragement on how to succeed in the future.

Spiritually: Get involved in a local church, a place you can serve and find a family atmosphere away from home.

Socially- Get out of your room and interact with a plethora of students and workers! You’ll make friendships in these 4 years that will last a lifetime. Conversely, there are a lot of opportunities that you’ll never get again once you graduate.

Academically- Go to the library! I don’t know about you, but once I go home, it’s over. My bed, my TV, and my dog are all more enticing than the pile of homework in my backpack.

Although I already knew that I needed to time manage, I wasn’t prepared for how challenging that would be- academically, spiritually and socially.
In an academic sense, I got involved in a club relevant to my major which was very beneficial. So GET INVOLVED; no one will make you.
Spiritually, I would say just because we are going to a Christian university and going to chapels doesn’t count as growing spiritually on your own. Put in your own effort.
And socially… go to everything; every event or invite. It will put your face out there and people will get to know you.

1. There are several other students who are going through some of the same spiritual battles as you are, so know that you’re not alone
2. Get involved and be open to meeting knew people, even if you don’t remain friends with them throughout the rest of your time at SEU
3. Manage your time well and plan way in advance for tests, assignments, projects, etc. Find a balance.

Tip one: keep your own devotional. Chapel is great to get some time worshiping God, but you have to keep your own relationship there. Its more important then you can know.
Tip two: Just get involved. It is so easy to just sit in your dorm and eat pizza, but you want to remember the good times. The memories that go along with it last forever.
Tip three: Do your homework. It seems like a stupid tip, but there is so much to do, class seems the least important. It is not. Do the homework, get good grades.

Even if you are a commuter, go to chapel at least once a week.
Talk to the people around you before class. Don’t be afraid of the other students, they’re just as nervous as you.
Within the first week of school, make a calendar of all your homework due, with every class color-coded.

Spiritually – Get involved in a church. Not just attending on Sunday mornings, but connect with a ministry within that church. And try to choose which church you want to commit to within the first few weeks. It’s easy to church hop for an entire semester, but I would advise not doing that.

Academically – Create a chart (Excel would work) of assignments that need to be done for each week. When you get things done ahead of time, you don’t feel stressed, get better grades, and create respect within your relationships with professors.

Socially – Go to the events on campus, even if you don’t know anyone! That’s where you will meet people. Also, don’t be afraid to sit with people you don’t know very well in Chartwells. Most people won’t go up to someone at their table and ask if they could join, but it works if you’ll do it.